DPSCS News

Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions
D.A.R.E.

The Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers' Association (M.D.O.A.) is a fraternal organization whose purpose is to provide a means to disseminate, share, advise and coordinate information which is beneficial and noteworthy to the operation of D.A.R.E. on a statewide basis. The object of the M.D.O.A. is to assist in ensuring continuity of materials and teaching techniques, to promote harmony and goodwill among its members and to develop a means to disseminate information which is valuable to D.A.R.E. officers statewide.

The M.D.O.A. is a non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan organization. The Association does not and will not endorse any political candidate nor will the name of the M.D.O.A. or the names of any of its officers or directors be used in connection with any projects of partisan interests or other interests other than those consist with the Associations' By-Laws.

The M.D.O.A. exists solely for the purpose of furthering the D.A.R.E. Program and its members. It is dedicated to providing the children of Maryland a safe and healthy future.

Additionally, the M.D.O.A. facilitates annual fund raising events. The membership selects a charity each year and works to raise funds for its benefit for that calender year. The selected charity historically is an organization that aids children in need, or benefits an individual needy child identified by the members.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers' Association and consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant of Arms and a Past President. To ensure that the activities of the Association are maintained at the highest level of consistency, the office of President is filled through a process of progression rather than through the election process. The highest office filled by the election process is the office of Vice President. The Vice President is elected for a term of two years and will progress to President in the second year. All individual offices are held for a one year term.

Membership Classifications
Membership to the M.D.O.A. is classified within four specific categories dependant upon the status of the individual.

Active Member: Actives members shall consist of any Maryland peace officer or person who is employed by a law enforcement agency or their cooperative school district, and is currently involved in the administration of the D.A.R.E. Program.

Honorary Member: The Board of Directors may invite selected persons to become Honorary Members when, in the Board of Directors opinion, those selected persons have rendered outstanding service to the Association or to the youth of this State through their work in drug abuse education.

Life Member: Life Membership is conferred on all "Past Presidents" of the M.D.O.A. and those who have received the "Sam Walker Lifetime Achievement Award".

Associate Member: Associate Membership is any person who supports the philosophy and ideals of the D.A.R.E. Program and which is not covered under the Regular Member status. Associate membership must be approved by the Board of Directors.